Are College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams the same as Advanced Placement (AP) exams?

CLEP and AP exams are similar in many respects, but different in key aspects. Both exams test learners' knowledge of college-level content, both exams are accepted for credit at thousands of colleges and universities, and both exams are developed and offered by College Board. 

Modern States uses CLEP exams for a number of reasons:

• The content tested on CLEP exams is available to any learner, anywhere, through Modern States courses, while content tested on AP exams is available primarily to high school students taking courses within their high school.
• CLEP exams are open to any learner, while AP exams are open nearly exclusively to high school students.
• CLEP exams can be taken whenever learners are ready to test, while AP exams are offered just once a year in high schools.
• CLEP exams are made up nearly entirely of multiple choice questions, while AP tests contain a blend of multiple choice and short and long-form essay questions.

Learners can take both CLEP exams and AP exams.